Top cylinder lubricator



March 1956 c. M. PRINDLE 2,737,172

TOP CYLINDER LUBRICAIOR Filed Feb. 4, 1954 Fig./

28\. fiflza l0 Cecil M. Pr/hd/e IN V EN TOR.

BY M

United States Patent TOP CYLINDER LUBRICATOR Cecil M. Prindle, Lubbock, Tex.

Application February 4, 1954, Serial No. 408,097

1 Claim. (Cl. 123-196) This invention relates to a top cylinder lubricator and more particularly to a device for supplying a charge of lubricant to the upper part of an internal combustion engine during the initial starting thereof. I

An object of this invention is to provide a top cylinder lubricator wherein a charge of lubricant of a predetermined quantity will be injected into the intake of the engine upon the starting of the engine.

A further object of this invention is to provide a top cylinder lubricator which is actuated by the conventional starter button of an automotive vehicle.

A further object of this invention is to provide a top cylinder lubricator comprising a reservoir having a cylinder attached thereto which cylinder is filled with a supply of lubricant from the reservoir upon actuation of the starter of the engine and which lubricant in the cylinder is discharged into the intake of the engine upon the energization of the starter.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a top cylinder lubricator which may be quickly and efliciently installed on the firewall of an automotive vehicle and connected to the existing structure of the engine.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a top cylinder lubricator which is simple and eflicient in construction, and durable and lasting in use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout and in which:

Figure l is an elevational view partly in section of the improved top cylinder lubricator forming the subject of this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the section line 22 of Figure l; and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the invention.

Referring now specifically to the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the improved type top cylinder lubricator includes a reservoir 10 having a cylinder 12 7 connected thereto.

The reservoir 10 is formed of an open ended cylindrical casing 14 having plates 16 and 18 closing the opposite ends thereof. The plate 16 is provided with an offset portion adjacent the periphery thereof which olfset portion engages the end of the casing 14. The plate 18 is provided with a similar olfset portion 22 engaging the other end of the casing 14. The olfset portion 20 of plate 16 is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures 24 and the offset portion 22 of plate 18 is provided with a plurality of similarly spaced apertures 26. A bolt 28 having a head 30 is inserted through the aligned apertures 24 and 26 and a nut 32 is threadedly engaged on the end of the bolt 28 opposite the head 30 for forcing the plates 16 and 18 together to frictionally engage the ends of the casing 14.

The plate 18 is provided with an enlarged central aper- "i 2,737,172 Patented Mar. 6, 1956 ture 34 having an offset flange 36 spaced therearound. The cylinder 10 is formed of a sleeve 38 having a radially outwardly extending flange 40 secured to one end there'- of. The flange 40 is adapted to engage the offset flange 36 and be sealed thereto with the sleeve 38 extending from the plate 18 in a direction opposite to plate 16. A collar 42 is threadedly engaged on the other end of the sleeve 38 for substantially closing the same. Integrally formed with the collar 42 is a valve seat 44 which substantially closes the end of the collar. A small central aperture 46 is provided within the valve seat 44 and communicates the interior of the sleeve 38 with a chamber 48 formed by an extension 49 on the collar 42. A nipple 50 extends from the extension 49 whereby a conduit 52 may be connected to the chamber 48. The other end of the conduit 52 is adapted to be connected to the intake 53 of an engine.

Disposed within the chamber 48 is a ball valve 54 which seats against the valve seat 44 for sealing the aperture 46. The coil spring 56 is disposed within the chamber 48 and engages the ball valve 54 for urging the same into contact with the valve seat 44. The pressure exerted by the spring is such that it can be overcome by the suction of the engine when the engine is operating to withdraw the ball valve 54 from the seat 44. Secured to the plate 16 and extending upwardly therefrom is a solenoid 58. The solenoid 58 is provided with a conventional armature or core 60 which reciprocates therein.

The plate 16 is provided with a central aperture 62 whereby the core 60 may move outwardly with respect to the solenoid 58 into the chamber 64 of the reservoir 10. A cap 66 is provided on the upper end of the solenoid 58 for closing the aperture Within which the core reciprocates. Disposed between the core 60 and the inner surface of the cap 66 is a coil spring 68 which will urge the core 60 outwardly of the solenoid 58. A bracket 70 is secured to the inner face of the cap 66 for securing the coil spring 68 thereto and a bracket 72 is secured to the core 60 for securing the other end of the spring thereto.

The other end of the core 60 is provided with an internally threaded bore 74 which threadedly receives one end of a rod 76. The rod 76 extends from the core 60 within the sleeve 38. Secured to the lower end of the rod 66 is a flexible cup-shaped plunger 78. Suitable lock nuts 80 and 82 secure the plunger 78 in position on the end of the rod 76.

Secured within the cap 42 and extending upwardly within the sleeve 38 is an oifset ring-shaped flange or seat 84. When the plunger 78 is in its lowermost position the lips of the plunger engage the flange 84 for preventing the passage of liquid through the flange 84 to the chamber 48.

The solenoid 58 is maintained in position on the plate 16 by the use of suitable fasteners 86. The plate 16 is also provided with a suitable filler opener 88 having a cap 90 secured thereto for closing the same. This filler opening allows the filling of the reservoir 10 with a suitable lubricant.

A split-ring bracket 92 is mounted on the casing 14 between the bolts 28 and the casing 14 and a bolt 94 having a nut 96 threadedly engaged thereon is provided for urging the ends of the split-ring together. The free ends of the split-ring are offset so as to provide means whereby fasteners 98 may secure the assembly to a firewall 100 of a vehicle. The solenoid 58 is provided with a contact 102 to which is connected an electrical conductor 104 which is connected at its other end to the starting solenoid 105 of the engine.

In practical use of the device, after the device has been mounted on the firewall of a vehicle or other suitable place, the conduit 52 is connected to the intake manifold and the conductor 104 is connected to the starting solenoid. When the starting solenoid is energized to start the en ine, hesolenoidgifi; will also be energized for drawing the core 60 thereinto. As the core 60 is withdrawn the plunger 73' will be moved upwardly within the sleeve 38- allowing lubricant which hasbeen placed in the chamber 641a pass below the plunger. Then, after. the engine startsand the starting solenoidflis. deenergized the solenoid 58 will. likewise be deenergized and the spring 68 will forcethe core 60 outwardly of the solenoid. This. will cause thev,plunger.78 tov descend within the sleeve 38 and force lubricant through the aperture 4.6 in seat 44 into the chamber 48' and thence. to the line 52 leading to the intake manifold.

The pressure exerted on the fluid within the sleeve 33 as the plunger '78 descends will cause the ball valve 54-.to moveaway from the seat. The suction created in the intake manifold of the engine will also aid in moving the ball valve 54 from its seat. When the plunger 73 reaches thebottom. of its stroke the plunger 78 will rest on the-flange 84 thereby preventing a further discharge of fluid from the reservoir into the conduit 52. Thus, lubicrating fluid will be discharged into line 52 only upon initial starting of the engine to lubricate the upper portion of the cylinder during the initial operation.

When the plunger 78 is being moved upwardly within the sleeve 38 the suction created thereby will cause the ball valve 54 to seat on the valve seat 44 and will thereby cause fluid to flow from the reservoir around the plunger 78 to a position below the plunger to be discharged on the next subsequent downward movement of the plunger 78.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur'to 4, those skilled in the art,-it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly allsuitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claim.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

An engine cylinder lubricator comprising: a lubricant reservoir, a cylinder depending from said reservoir and communicating at its upper end therewith for receiving lubricant therefrom, a seat in thelower portion of the cylinder, a suction conduit from the engine intake connected to the outlet end of thelcylinder, a-suction opened check valvein the intake end of said cond uit, a flexible plunger operable in the cylinder for ejecting the lubricant therefrom through the check valve and engageable with the seat for positively closing the outlet end of the cylinder, and means for actuating the plunger, said means including a solenoid mounted on the reservoir and electrically connected to the engine starting system, an armature slidable in the solenoid and retractible thereby, and a coil spring in the solenoid for projecting the armature said plunger comprising a rodconnected to the armature and a cup mounted on said'rod; I 7

References Cited in thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,607,523 Gaffney Nov. 16, 1926 1,945,596 Chryst Feb. 6, 1934 2,194,007 Clementson- Mar. 19, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS 93,365 Sweden Nov. 19, 1938 482.504 Great Britain w g Mar. 30, 1938 

